Ten nations earn medals on first day of finals at 2022 European Rowing Championships

With Munich’s Olympic Regatta course providing great racing conditions, the first A-Finals of the 2022 European Rowing Championships took place today. Ten different nations picked up medals, with Great Britain finishing the first day of finals at the top of the medal table including an impressive three consecutive gold medals.

PR1 men’s single sculls (PR1 M1x) – A-Final

In the first medal race of the 2022 European Rowing Championships, it was Italy’s Giacomo Perini that got out of the blocks first, but he was being closely tracked by Great Britain’s Ben Pritchard. Reigning Paralympic Champion Roman Polianskyi of Ukraine was sitting in third place at 500m.  At 1000m, there was just a length separating the top three scullers but Polianskyi used the marker to start charging towards Pritchard. With just 500m to go, Polianskyi had moved into silver medal position, but it was a remarkable performance from the newcomer Giacomo – nobody could catch him! Pritchard really started to work in the closing stages, but Polianskyi managed to hold him off to take the silver.

Result: ITA, UKR, GBR, ISR, ESP, HUN

PR1 women’s single sculls (PR1 W1x) – A-Final

With four scullers racing for three medals, it was all to play for. Reigning Paralympic Champion, Birgit Skarstein of Norway was first to make a showing, establishing a lead over Israel’s Moran Samuel, who won silver in Tokyo. Skarstein was first across the 500m marker, but Samuel continued to chase, with the young Ukrainian Anna Sheremet sitting in third place. To the delight of the home supporters, Germany’s Manuela Diening had an excellent second 500m, moving ahead of Sheremet and closing on Samuel too. Nobody wanted to be the one sculler to miss out on a medal but with 500m left to go, it looked like it was going to be the Paralympic silver medallist that was out of the medal zone. Nobody could catch Skarstein, she took a comfortable gold, and defended her title as European Champion.

Result: NOR, GER, UKR, ISR

Lightweight men’s quadruple sculls (LM4x) – Final

It was just a two-boat race and although the German crew had won gold in this boat class at the most recent World Rowing Cup, in Lucerne, it was Italy who took lead early on and maintained that position throughout. Despite a crab from Italy in the second quarter of the race, Germany just couldn’t match the pace. Italy stormed towards the line to finish comfortably ahead of Germany.

Result: ITA, GER

Women’s pair (W2-) – A-Final

After a blistering start by all six crews, it was the 2022 U23 Champions from Greece that took the early lead. However, after settling into the race rhythm, Great Britain got out in front. Ireland remained at 40 strokes per minute in the first quarter of the race, but it was Romania that had the highest boat speed. Into the second quarter of the race, the Netherlands and Great Britain were matching each other stroke for stroke and the lead was constantly changing hands. Into the second half of the race, Great Britain tried to start breaking away from the Dutch pair. With 500m left to go, Romania had moved into silver medal position, but there was still very little between the top three crews. The final sprint from Romania got them into the lead, but Great Britain was attacking every single stroke. The Romanians were just too powerful, Great Britain took the silver.

Result: ROU, GBR, NED, IRL, CRO, GRE

Men’s pair (M2-) – A-Final

Lithuania’s Stankunas brothers were fastest off the start but, with their higher stroke rate, Romania soon took the lead, with Spain in third place. Great Britain was in fourth in the early stages, but we expected there might be more to come from them. Towards 750m, the field started shaking out and, with Romania still in the lead, Great Britain was starting to move through the field. The race was still starting to hot up at the halfway marker with barely two lengths separating all six boats. Romania still led at 1000m, and Great Britain had moved into silver medal position – could they reverse the result of the women’s pair? With 500m to go, Romania was holding Great Britain at arm’s length and Romania started to fly, could GB match the sprint? While Great Britain was trying to catch Romania, Spain really started to attack too. Romania were just too strong, nobody could threaten them for the gold.

Result: ROU, GBR, ESP, LTU, ITA, SRB

Women’s four (W4-) – A-Final

Ireland established the lead initially with Denmark, the Netherlands and Great Britain hot on their heels. Just after 500m, Great Britain, after a massive push, went into the lead, narrowly ahead of Ireland with the Netherlands sitting in third. By halfway, Great Britain was starting to open up more of a lead, with Ireland and the Netherlands still sitting in the other two medal positions, but Romania not far behind either. Into the third quarter, Great Britain had established clear water over Ireland whilst Romania had overtaken the Netherlands in bronze medal position. Romania had the highest boat speed inside the closing stages, could they challenge Ireland? Great Britain was also having to respond. It all closed up in the final 100m, Ireland really had to sprint to the line and Denmark had come into the mix too. What a finish!

Result: GBR, IRL, ROU, DEN, NED, POL

Men’s four (M4-)– A-Final

Romania absolutely blasted out of the blocks and established an early led, ahead of Great Britain. But Great Britain was unflustered and moved into the front of the field approaching 750m. Meanwhile, there was an incredible battle unfolding behind for the remaining medals – the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Romania all in the mix. Great Britain had now established a strong lead and the Netherlands was sitting in silver medal position, marginally ahead of Romania. Romania was rating stroke 41 as they approached 500m to go, could they challenge the Netherlands and maybe even Great Britain? The British four continued to lead, with all six boats charging towards the line. The Netherlands and Romania were battling for silver all the way to the line and closing the gap on the British in the process.

Result: GBR, NED, ROU, POL, SUI, UKR

Women’s quadruple sculls (W4x) – A-Final 

The Netherlands was the first to make a showing, closely followed by Germany and Ukraine. However, it was then all change and Great Britain moved to the head of the field, half a length ahead of the Dutch. The GB crew really started to impress in the second quarter of the race and opened up more of a margin ahead of the Netherlands. The British crew was looking really impressive now, nobody could challenge them, but the other medals were far from set. The Netherlands was sprinting for the line and Ukraine had come into the medal zone too and even challenging for silver. It was another gold for Great Britain, but an amazing finish.

Result: GBR, NED, UKR, SUI, ITA, GER

Men’s quadruple sculls (M4x) – A-Final

Italy was the first to show, with two of the crew looking to defend their title from last year’s European Rowing Championships.  Whilst Italy established a strong lead, there was then very little between Great Britain, France and Poland behind them. By halfway, Poland had moved into silver medal position with France narrowly ahead of Romania for the bronze, but it certainly wasn’t over. Poland was starting to eat in to Italy’s lead, and Romania was coming too. Italy really had to respond to the final charge, while Poland held off the challenge from Romania.

Result: ITA, POL, ROU, GBR, EST, FRA

Women’s double sculls (W2x) – A-Final

The reigning Olympic and European Champions, Romania, went off the start with the highest stroke rate and took the lead, marginally ahead of the Netherlands, with Lithuania in third place. 500m in and Romania was looking really strong, having established almost a boat length lead over the Netherlands. By halfway, the Romanian duo was well in control of the race. The Netherlands was still in second and Lithuania was in bronze medal position as they came into the final quarter of the race – but could anyone else challenge for a podium place? Nobody could catch the Romanians, they were absolutely dominant and defended their European title. However, Italy had a strong final sprint, overhauled Lithuania and even challenged the Netherlands too. The Dutch duo held them off to take the silver.

Result: ROU, NED, ITA, LTU, GBR, POL

Men’s eight (M8+) – Final 

There was a boat-stopping crab from the Netherlands in the very early stages putting them well behind the pack, while Great Britain was the early-showing crew. The British boat already had quarter of a length of clear water ahead of Germany, with Italy in bronze medal position. Meanwhile, the Netherlands had made an incredible recovery and was only half a length down on Italy – could they move into the medal positions? With 500m to go, Great Britain continued to dominate the race, but the Netherlands had moved into silver medal position – what an amazing performance from them! Germany was really having to fight hard for a medal now, Italy was pushing them every single stroke. There was upset for the local supporters on the finish line when Germany missed out on a medal by 0.37 seconds.

Result: GBR, NED, ITA, GER, ROU